Solo Guinea Pig

[MisoSovp]

Hello everyone, recently I adopted a 2 year old male Guinea Pig for the first time. I have been told by the place I adopted him from that ever since he was a baby he would constantly fight with other Guinea Pigs, both from his previous owner and Guinea Pigs at the adoption centre. He is very gentle and playful and I adore him so much so I want to do what is best for him - we have been advised by the adoption centre and our vets to keep him as a solo Guinea Pig. He is in my room in a well set up enclosure. I handle him daily (which he loves) and also plays in his play pen on the grass when it is warm outside. Is there anything else I can do for him? I don't know if he is lonely/depressed without another Guinea Pig but sadly another one is not an option at the moment as my mother is against it and I am also worried about him fighting with/injuring another Guinea Pig. He has a lot of enrichment in his set up in the form of toys and how his hay is set up also, he is also fed correctly.

Thank you!

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. That’s great you’ve adopted your piggy. He really would benefit from a friend of his own kind. Is there a rescue near you that does dating? Then he could choose his own buddy and if it didn’t work out they would take them back? Good luck. Feel free to post a picture if you’d like to share.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s rare for a piggy to be truly single (it happens though) and mostly in this situation ifs because they haven’t been paired by a compatible piggy.
Would neutering him (having the six week post op wait to become infertile) and finding him a sow be a viable option for you? A neutered boar and sow pair are usually much more stable for the long term

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

 

[Free Ranger]

It's a tricky one this. Sometimes people have started with a pair and they've subsequently fallen out and ended up living as next-door neighbours where they each have their own cage/enclosure and there are bars in between to make everyone feel secure. I've ended up doing this twice over: years ago with my first pair of boys and recently with 4 piggies as two pairs because one girl was feisty and fought my poor boy! There's no more cleaning up with 2 separates than an all-together pair because it's the same amount of poop either way, but you do need the space to do it as there is a recommended minimum area for a boar pair and halving this for 2 separate piggies seems a bit of a squash. My neighbours have interacted well through the bars - see this pigture of everyone eating together but without the bars the fur would be flying!


The option of neutering and trying him with a girl after 6 weeks would be tempting for me because if that works out he'd be happiest of all. However I'd also be considering to try and pair him at least with a boy neighbour. There is the risk that they'll dislike each other if you try and put them in together as it seems like he wants his own space but another boy-next-door would give them someone to talk to when you're not around - and they'd understand each other's language in a way we just can't. You'd have to discuss it with mum - obvs. Good luck!

 

[Swissgreys]

It is lovely that you have adopted this boy - it certainly sounds like he has a good home with you.
it is also good you are looking into options, as there are some great rescues in the UK who offer a dating service for single piggies.
Most piggies are happier living with a companion, or at the very least side by side with a friend to interact with.
Sadly there are many places that call themselves adoption centres or rescues that have fairly low standards.
I don't suppose your piggy happened to come from he adoption area of a certain large chain pet shop did he?

These are notorious for taking back piggies based solely on information from the previous owners, who often use excuses like 'fighting' to off load a pet they no longer want.
How many piggies has he actually fallen out with, and what sort of cage was he previously kept in?
Boars do require a lot of space, and sometimes fights can happen simply becasue people don't offer enough space and resources for a boar pair.

I wouldn't rule out looking into finding him a friend - it really is the absolute best thing you can do for him, and at only 2 years old he potentially has a very long life ahead of him.

 

[MisoSovp]

Hello and welcome to the forum. That’s great you’ve adopted your piggy. He really would benefit from a friend of his own kind. Is there a rescue near you that does dating? Then he could choose his own buddy and if it didn’t work out they would take them back? Good luck. Feel free to post a picture if you’d like to share.

Thank you for your reply! I don't think there is one that is close by but for him I would be willing to travel to find one. Thank you for this advice - I did not know that was an option! I will speak to my mum about it and look into trying this I have attached a picture of him relaxing in some blankets, I named him Beemo!

 

[MisoSovp]

It’s rare for a piggy to be truly single (it happens though) and mostly in this situation ifs because they haven’t been paired by a compatible piggy.
Would neutering him (having the six week post op wait to become infertile) and finding him a sow be a viable option for you? A neutered boar and sow pair are usually much more stable for the long term

Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths, Facts and Post-op Care

Thank you for your reply! I have booked an appointment with my vet to check if he is neutered, from there I will speak to them and hopefully work with some recuses to get him a new friend! I have attached a picture above of him if you'd like to see, his name is Beemo

 

[MisoSovp]

It's a tricky one this. Sometimes people have started with a pair and they've subsequently fallen out and ended up living as next-door neighbours where they each have their own cage/enclosure and there are bars in between to make everyone feel secure. I've ended up doing this twice over: years ago with my first pair of boys and recently with 4 piggies as two pairs because one girl was feisty and fought my poor boy! There's no more cleaning up with 2 separates than an all-together pair because it's the same amount of poop either way, but you do need the space to do it as there is a recommended minimum area for a boar pair and halving this for 2 separate piggies seems a bit of a squash. My neighbours have interacted well through the bars - see this pigture of everyone eating together but without the bars the fur would be flying!
View attachment 199671

The option of neutering and trying him with a girl after 6 weeks would be tempting for me because if that works out he'd be happiest of all. However I'd also be considering to try and pair him at least with a boy neighbour. There is the risk that they'll dislike each other if you try and put them in together as it seems like he wants his own space but another boy-next-door would give them someone to talk to when you're not around - and they'd understand each other's language in a way we just can't. You'd have to discuss it with mum - obvs. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply! Ideally I would like to check if he is already neutered (I have a vert appointment set up for this). I will then speak to my mum about it and hopefully I will be able to get another friend for him - if it comes down to it and they need to be neighbours I'd like to get 2 piggies so they can be together and he can be on his own but close by. Obviously, in an idea world he could live with another (maybe 2) piggies. I have attached a picture above of him if you'd like to see, his name is Beemo

 

[MisoSovp]

It is lovely that you have adopted this boy - it certainly sounds like he has a good home with you.
it is also good you are looking into options, as there are some great rescues in the UK who offer a dating service for single piggies.
Most piggies are happier living with a companion, or at the very least side by side with a friend to interact with.
Sadly there are many places that call themselves adoption centres or rescues that have fairly low standards.
I don't suppose your piggy happened to come from he adoption area of a certain large chain pet shop did he?

These are notorious for taking back piggies based solely on information from the previous owners, who often use excuses like 'fighting' to off load a pet they no longer want.
How many piggies has he actually fallen out with, and what sort of cage was he previously kept in?
Boars do require a lot of space, and sometimes fights can happen simply becasue people don't offer enough space and resources for a boar pair.

I wouldn't rule out looking into finding him a friend - it really is the absolute best thing you can do for him, and at only 2 years old he potentially has a very long life ahead of him.

Thank you for your reply! Yes, he was from a large chain pet store in the UK, I think we all here know which one... I'm against them and how they treat animals but I could not stand to see him in that small cage in their store so I had to take him and give him a loving home. I have a vet appointment set up to check if he is neutered already and hopefully from there I can maybe get him a friend. I'm not 100% sure how many piggies he has fought with, his previous owners had a few but they had to give him up because he did not get along with any of them. After the vet appointment I will look into getting him a friend from a breeder. I know getting pets from pet stores is looked down on but I couldn't let him stay there, he has bonded very quickly with me so it makes me wonder that maybe he was depressed before I took him? Not sure. Either way, I will do anything I can to make him happy I have attached a picture above of him if you'd like to see, his name is Beemo

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s definitely the safest way to find a friend is with the help of a rescue centre. They will ensure the two piggies have character compatibility and therefore a successful bond before you commit to a piggy.
This is a list of approved rescues. Perhaps one/some of them are within your reach

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/guinea-pig-forum-recommended-rescues.196734/

Do be aware that by getting him a friend from a breeder, there is a risk he will not get on with the piggy you choose so having a plan b of living along side each other in separate cages will be needed so they can interact.

If he finds a male friend, then he can only ever live with one other - boars need to be kept in pairs. You cant keep three boars together as they will fight.
If he is neutered/going to be neutered, then he can live with as many sows as your cage size will allow

 

[Free Ranger]

Beemo is lovely and I bet he's much happier living with you! They do love a fleecy blanket
Have a look at the 'Rescue List' linked in the green bar above and see if any are near to you. They will be able to give you advice on 'dating' a boar. Be aware that sometimes people will say to get a baby boar and they will be bound get on... well that might be true, but that baby will grow up so if the characters are not compatible you'd be better knowing straight away.

I've had PaH adoptees before and it's been fine in our case. All my piggies have been grown-ups apart from one little girl from PaH. She was apparently in with a batch of newbies but had to have some sort of treatment and so was in isolation at the back of the store for a while and then couldn't be put in with the new batch. I phoned up looking for a single girl to adopt on spec - that's how we got her. I personally like the adults pootling around - I think the speedy babies would be too crazy for me! Each PaH can be quite different. What you need is an employee who is genuinely interested in piggie welfare. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, after all we were all beginners at some point!

 

[MisoSovp]

Beemo is lovely and I bet he's much happier living with you! They do love a fleecy blanket
Have a look at the 'Rescue List' linked in the green bar above and see if any are near to you. They will be able to give you advice on 'dating' a boar. Be aware that sometimes people will say to get a baby boar and they will be bound get on... well that might be true, but that baby will grow up so if the characters are not compatible you'd be better knowing straight away.

I've had PaH adoptees before and it's been fine in our case. All my piggies have been grown-ups apart from one little girl from PaH. She was apparently in with a batch of newbies but had to have some sort of treatment and so was in isolation at the back of the store for a while and then couldn't be put in with the new batch. I phoned up looking for a single girl to adopt on spec - that's how we got her. I personally like the adults pootling around - I think the speedy babies would be too crazy for me! Each PaH can be quite different. What you need is an employee who is genuinely interested in piggie welfare. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, after all we were all beginners at some point!

Very true! I went back in today to get some more information on Beemo - it turns out that the lady I spoke to last time got his story confused with another Guinea Pig. It turns out that Beemo did have a friend who sadly passed away, so the plan now is to get him neutered then once he is fully recovered we will be going to a rescue/adoption centre and looking into the dating stuff to get him a friend (maybe a few friends!). Thank you very much for your advice!